Fix it Again, Tony - letters from January 2008

January '08

Feature Article from Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car

I have an MGA 1600 Deluxe Coupe. It's a nice car but not a particularly valuable one. I'd like to up the horsepower to something in the 130-140hp range, e.g., supercharged MGB or some other easily fitted engine. Your suggestions would be most welcome. As an aside, I have a beautifully restored MG TD, which was extensively modified during its restoration with an MGB engine, racing cams, Webers, front disc brakes, etc. It's a dream, the car they should have built. I'd like to do something similar with the MGA.
Robert Allen
Via e-mail
Swapping your 1600 three-main engine to a newer 1800 five-main is going to be a fairly easy modification, Robert. In fact, I'm sure it will be easier than what you did to your TD. In short, here's what you'll have to do to make it work: You'll have to use the MGA's rear engine plate so it matches up to the bell housing of that three-synchro tranny and keep the original starter location. You'll have to do a little machining to make it work with the newer rear main seal. The pilot bushing will have to be changed to match the input shaft, and you may have some issues with the B's pressure plate clearing the bellhousing. There are some issues to work out with the intake and exhaust manifolds, and finally, since there is no mechanical tachometer drive off the new engine, you'll have to use an electrical unit. For all the detailed specs and issues visit www.mgbmga.com/tech/mga2.htm or mgaguru.com/mgtech/power/pp201.htm.I'm sure I don't have to tell you this is only the beginning of a series of modifications like better brakes, suspension and, eventually, the transmission to handle all that newfound power. Have fun making the swap and let us know how things go.
Help! I've looked just about everywhere for this. I have a 1972 Datsun 510 four-door and need to remove the fuel tank. Unfortunately, I have to remove the back seat to get at the bolts, and I can't figure out how to do this. The upholstery is in really good condition, and I don't want to tear it up. Am I missing something here? I feel like such a dope.
Jason Hart
Jackson, Wyoming
I had to dig pretty deep for this one, but I found the answer. The Japanese assembly worker who installed the back seat was probably the last person to touch it, and that was 35 years ago! Start with the bottom seat cushion by grabbing it where the seat meets the floor and pulling it towards the front of the car, then straight up. This will expose two u-brackets that hold the seat back in place. They should be held with Phillips-head screws. Undo the screws, then lift the seat back straight up and out. Remember, the last time these seats were fiddled with Atari was launching the arcade version of Pong, so take your time and don't strip the heads off the screws. Once you get the seats out, you should have no trouble getting to the fuel tank hardware.
Do you know of a good place that rebuilds instruments? The Veglia tachometer in my Ferrari 328 GTS reads about 1,500 rpm too low once I get above the 4,000-rpm range. I understand that this is a common problem that is easily fixed with a rebuild. Thanks for any help you can give me.
Doug Brown
Via e-mail
You're right, Doug. This is a fairly common complaint from a lot of Ferrari owners. Some have gone so far as to replace all the gauges with aftermarket made to look like the originals. The calibration potentiometer inside these tachometers will go bad and cause all kinds of problems. I've had good luck with Palo Alto Speedometer in the past: www.paspeedo.com. They were pretty reasonable, and the turnaround time wasn't too bad. You can also go to www.hemmings.com/classifieds/servic esoffered/ and search under "instruments" for others. After you get it fixed, you'll be able to accurately keep an eye on all your prancing horses.
I have a 1987 Jaguar XJ6 in which the hydraulic pump supplies power to the brakes. Under the mineral oil hydraulic system reservoir there is a special valve, with a high-pressure and low-pressure sensor. I am having a very hard time finding the replacement for those sensors because the ones currently on the car are leaking. In order to resurrect the car, I need to replace those sensors. I have looked through the junkyard, and did not find anything. I looked through the Internet; the prices where ridiculous, and they did not even guarantee their function. Therefore, they were secondhand or wrecked pieces. I looked through the dealer, and no solutions or suggestions were available. I am desperate to bring this car back to life. That is the only problem it has; the rest is in great shape. Please help me. It will be a pity to lose it.
Carlos Diaz
Via e-mail
Why is it that Jaguar builds cars that make you drool when you look at them but make you physically ill when you work on them? The hydraulic system that's giving you trouble is a common source of frustration for more than one technician. Your vintage Jag uses hydraulic assist (instead of vacuum) for brake boost, which is also used for the self-leveling rear suspension. The other big frustration of owning these big cats is they can be expensive to keep purring. You can buy the pressure switches for about $200 each, used, or $300 new. Have you checked to see where the leak is coming from? It may be as simple as a bad o-ring. I hope you're able to keep your kitty alive.
Questions for Tony? Send an e-mail to ask_tony@hotmail.com. Or, if you live in a cave and don't have access to a computer, write a letter to Fix it Again, Tony, c/o Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, P.O. Box 904, Bennington, Vermont 05201.

This article originally appeared in the January, 2008 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.